the Agriculture Agenda

Week July 12 - 18, 2010

Events directly and indirectly related to agricultural development

NB:
July Some more for your information!

Mon 12 Caribbean Food Crops
Society 46th Annual
Meeting, Boca Chica,
"Protected Agriculture: A
Technological Option for
the Competitiveness of
the Caribbean"
12 – 18 July 2010
Dominican Republic
Tues 13 'TSTAR Invasive Species
Symposium'
13 July 2010
Dominican Republic
The Caribbean Food Crops Society was established in 1963 in San Juan, Puerto
Rico. They are an independent; non-profitable organization that is not affiliated
with any public or private institution. Their objectives are to advance and foster
Caribbean food production, processing and distribution in their bid to improve the
quality of life for their people. Every year the meeting is held in a different country
within the Caribbean and covers different themes of interest to the host county.
This year’s theme “Protected Agriculture: A Technological Option for the
Competitiveness of the Caribbean” will present the Dominican Republic’s
research; outcomes and technological development activities that are
transforming their agriculture sector, and provides the platform for their policy
makers; researchers; engineers; scientist; farmers and others, the opportunity to
exchange or showcase their national agricultural development plan; relevant
research and technological information to an international forum.
The first Tropical Subtropical Agricultural Research (TSTAR) Invasive Species
Symposium was held in Grenada in 2003 and led to the setting up of CISWG. Since
then, a day is set aside during the CFCS Annual Meeting to host a one day
symposium. This allows for the presentation of papers and updates from
researchers on their latest initiatives against invasive species. On the agenda this
year are:- 1) Toward Safeguarding the Greater Caribbean: Assessment of
Accomplishments since Grenada and What Still Needs to be Done; 2) Some
Imminent Threats of Invasive Alien Species to the Greater Caribbean Region; 3)
Citrus Greening- Advances in Research and Practical Efforts to Prevent, Mitigate
and Contain the Disease, and Biosurveillance and Pest Information.

CACHE Assembly The Assembly will discuss its project for the establishment of a Regional Strategic
Meeting Policy committee to respond to the need of skilled human resources for five
Caribbean countries (Barbados, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Suriname and
13 – 15 July 2010
Trinidad & Tobago) and will take place during the CFCS 46th annual meeting in
Dominican Republic the Dominican Republic.
Wed 14 International Workshop The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in collaboration with the UN Food
on Addressing the and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Meteo-France, USDA and others will host the
International Workshop on Addressing the Livelihood Crisis of Farmers: Weather
Livelihood Crisis of
and Climate Services”. This event aims to address a number of issues such as:-
Farmers: Weather and (1)identify and assess the weather and climate risks and uncertainties that affect
Climate Services the livelihoods of farmers; (2)review and summarize various weather and climate
12-14 July 2010 services for the farming community; (3) review climate change risk management
in adapting strategic plans to reduce the potential impacts of climate change for
Brazil
farmers; (4)review the use of weather risk insurance strategies and schemes to
reduce the vulnerability of the farming communities to weather and climate risks;
(5)obtain feedback from farmers on the extent to which current weather and
climate services assist them in coping with various weather and climate risks and
enhance the productivity of crops on their farms; and (6) discuss and recommend
suitable policy options to enhance weather and climate services for the farming
community. Issues discussed and solutions arrived at should hold significance for
Caribbean countries as they attempt to tackle these same challenges.
Thurs 15

Fri 16

Sat 17 'Caribbean Invasive Caribbean Invasive Species Working Group CISWG: initiated as an action group
Species Working Group to focus on invasive species at the Caribbean Food Crops Society (CFCS) 2003
CISWG:' meeting. In 2004, the group eventually became CISWG and includes a range of
17 July, 2010 regional, national, and academic organisations (e.g., CARDI, CABI, CARICOM,
Dominican Republic USDA/APHIS, FAO, IICA UWI, UF, TNC). CISWIG is focussed on the prevention of
introduction of IAS, particularly in the agriculture and trade sector. The group
maintains its focus on agricultural commodities recognising the role of other
groups focussed on the environmental and veterinary aspects of invasive species.
At its 2004 meeting, a draft Caribbean Invasive Species Intervention Strategy
(CRISIS) was developed.
Sun 18

Also in the month of July: Reminder

National Consultation on CARICOM Canada Negotiation is being planned by the Office of Trade Negotiations; CaRAPN
Medium Term Strategic Planning Workshop and Mango Festival
Details provided in next week’s the Agriculture Agenda
The full July and other monthly calendars can be viewed on www.carapn.net.
Please send information about your events to keep all stakeholders informed and updated on time to Diana.Francis@iica.int

a project of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation